For homework, I told my students to go for a walk. The class was Creative Team Dynamics at the Parsons School of Design. I asked them to observe the interactions between people. Some may have been acting in concert towards a common goal, others in obvious conflict, while others still somewhere in between.
In class this week, they shared what they noticed. Many recalled sweet images of children with their parents or couples on a walk. One noticed a conflict between a homeless person and a falafel vendor, which ultimately led to warm exchange.
Finally one student noticed two brothers playing. The older brother offered to carry the younger’s backpack as they went off running down the street. This act of sibling kindness made her think of her own younger sister with fondness. Ultimately, inspiring her to change her weekend plans so she could go home that weekend and spend time with her little sister.
In reflecting on their homework, there was a universally positive response. They enjoyed a stroll that required little more than their time and presence. They appreciated the value and importance of noticing.
Last week, I had a similar experience. Needing a break from everything, I went to a park. Laying down under a tree with my backpack for a pillow, I listened to the sounds of trees in a breeze and birds chirping that had previously gone unnoticed. I heard a mom teaching her daughter how to ride a bike. Soon a dad and another daughter joined them in their quest to master two wheels. Sounds of support floated through the air and I felt a peace I hadn’t felt in days. I smiled remembering the times I taught my own little girls how to ride.
A person on average walks four thousand steps a day and hears almost 30,000 words – not to mention multiples of other ambient sounds.
But how often do we truly stop to notice what we pass by or hear?
The noise, both literal and metaphorical, of everyday life grabs our attention by hook or crook. Distractions often making us deaf to the tender interactions all around us.
To truly notice what is worth noticing requires a temporary stillness of mind or at least an earnest attempt to focus on our surroundings -even if just for a few minutes. Doing so unlocks a whole host of emotions that connect us to ourselves and others: compassion, grace and love among them. Emotions that we in turn bring to our next interactions with others.
May you notice something special today.
This Week’s Recommendation: In the wake of foolish and hurtful rumors, it was refreshing to read this op-ed by the Governor of Ohio, himself from Springfield, Ohio. It’s a wonderful and honest tribute to a truly welcoming community.